Was Watching: Lombardi: Cycling Bobby Murcer

I was at this Murcer-fueled Yankee-Ranger doubleheader…but I had recently hit a quality qualudfectra, so memory is hazy.

I thought this might be a nice time to look back at one of Bobby Murcer’s greatest games as a member of the New York Yankees: August 29, 1972.

It was the first game of a twi-night doubleheader against the Rangers - at Yankee Stadium.

...Murcer came to the plate, with the Yankees down by one and three outs away from a loss. He also needed a homerun for the cycle. The last Yankee to hit for the cycle was Mickey Mantle on July 23, 1957 - fifteen years prior.

Murcer had been swinging a hot bat. Coming into this game, he was 9 for his last 16 - including going four for seven during the second game of a double-header in a wild 16-inning win against the Royals on August 27th (which was the last game the Yankees played before this one against the Rangers - as they had no game on August 28th).

The Rangers brought in young lefty Steve Lawson to pitch the ninth inning with Murcer leading off. Lawson had only been in the big leagues for seven games, all in that August, prior to this game. And, Murcer promptly homered off Lawson - the first and last homer that Lawson would allow in his brief one-season major league career.